-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A viral video has real officers going for laughs with the serious intent of finding their next police chief .

`` We wanted something that expressed our culture of openness , '' said Hillsboro , Oregon , Lt. Michael Rouches , the department 's public information officer .

`` It 's not that we take our jobs lightly , it 's that we tend to approach every situation with a positive attitude . So we thought , ` how could we demonstrate that message to a potential chief of police ? ' ''

The answer came in the form of a scripted video that 's part `` Law and Order , '' part `` Parks and Recreation . '' It 's been a smash on YouTube .

Running a little more than six minutes , the video comprises sketch routines featuring officers on the 120-member force .

`` This is our dispatcher , Earleen , '' an officer says cheerfully in one sequence . `` She 's fantastic ; you can reach her at 911 . '' All the officers , except one acting `` cool , '' are from the department . The two bad guys are professional actors .

The video was shot over three days in early July and cost about $ 9,200 . Rouches said the money came from the city 's marketing budget .

`` It 's public money , and when we look at the return on this $ 9,000 we spent , the fact is that a lot of folks are paying attention , '' he said . `` I 'm also very sensitive to the public 's trust about the money , but the feedback from the people in our city has been very positive . ''

Hillsboro may be looking for an image makeover as well . The previous police chief resigned in March amid labor tensions , according to The Oregonian newspaper . In addition , a former commander filed a hostile work environment action against the interim police chief , who left in June , the newspaper said .

Rouches said the environment has greatly improved .

`` The issues internally have never been issues externally ; they 've never manifested themselves out in the field , and that 's where the rubber meets the road for us , '' he said .

Will the video be a hit or miss ? Will it start a trend for first-responders looking for applicants ?

Lauri Stevens , a social media consultant for police departments , thought Hillsboro did the right thing .

`` This video in my opinion was -LRB- and -RRB- is a risk , '' Stevens said . `` But I think in the long run , it 's going to be a big win for both their reputation and their selection options for the next chief . ''

She also praised the department for being a trendsetter .

`` Hillsboro is pushing that envelope and so they 're going to be criticized . All pioneers have to take a few arrows in the back right ? '' she said . `` They say they 're not an uptight department and , I would say they 're proving it ! ''

The video 's director echoed the sentiment , calling it a `` fantastic '' way to get the word out .

`` It was awesome that they wanted to do something like this , '' said Brett Eichenberger . `` We think outside of the box . I look at this as a great opportunity to get a positive message out there about the police . ''

Rouches said he has seen criticism of the video in web comments after articles about it , but he stands by the department 's decision .

`` If they could meet our folks , they could understand what we are trying to get across , '' he said . `` The whole thing is to connect with people and make good things happen . ''

And for anyone who may be interested , the salary for the Hillsboro police chief ranges between $ 101,916 and $ 137,880 .

IRS ` Star Trek ' video an 'em barrassing ' mistake

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The Hillsboro Police Department in Oregon seeks a new police chief

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Its recruitment video , starring officers , goes for laughs at a cost of $ 9,200

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`` We wanted something that expressed our culture of openness , '' spokesman says